NMC statement on the outcome of midwife Lindsey Biggs’ fitness to practise hearing

NMC statement on the outcome of midwife Lindsey Biggs' fitness to practise hearing

19 October 2016

Following a fitness to practise hearing which concluded today, an NMC panel has found that the fitness to practise of midwife Lindsey Biggs is impaired and she has received a striking off order. This means that she will be removed from the register and will be unable to practise. Lindsey Biggs faced charges that related to her care of Patient C and Baby A in 2008 while working as a midwife at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

In July, the same NMC panel found that while employed as a midwife at University Hospitals Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Ms Biggs had failed to ensure that observations were conducted on a baby, failed to escalate the baby’s low temperature to a paediatrician and failed to record adequately the care provided to Patient C in the maternal notes. As a result, the panel found that Ms Biggs had caused the baby in question to lose a significant chance of survival.

In reaching their decision today, the panel found there was no indication that Ms Biggs had given any consideration to her failures in providing basic, fundamental midwifery care and more importantly, the impact her actions and omissions had on Baby A and the tragic loss for the family. Ms Biggs expressed little remorse regarding her actions and in the absence of evidence of full remediation the panel concluded that there is a high risk of repetition, which could once again place patients at risk of harm and bring the profession into disrepute.

An NMC spokesperson said:

"It is clear that the conduct of Lindsey Biggs fell greatly below the standards expected of a midwife. The independent panel clearly recognised that should she remain on the register Ms Biggs would pose a significant risk to the public, therefore it is right that she has been struck off."

-End-

Notes for editors

Charges details:

Charge 1: Failed to ensure that Baby A’s observations were conducted between 03:00 and 06:50.Proved

Charge 2: Failed to escalate Baby A’s low temperature to a paediatrician at approximately 06:50.Proved

Charge 3: Failed to record adequately the care provided to Patient C and/or Baby A in the maternal notes.Proved in relation to Patient C, but not proved in relation to Baby A

Charge 4: Your conduct as set out at charge 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 above caused Baby A to lose a significant chance of survival.Proved

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent professional regulator for nurses and midwives in the UK. We exist to protect the public. We do this by maintaining the register of qualified nurses and midwives and setting standards of education, training, conduct and performance. We make sure that nurses and midwives keep their skills and knowledge up to date through a regular revalidation process. If concerns are raised about the standards of a registered nurse or midwife, we have a duty to investigate and, where necessary, take action to protect the public.